UPDATED! AoLithium Lithium Battery For RVs

#AoLithium has launched an upgraded version of of their 12V 100Ah - 4S battery. Here are the updated battery specifications:

1) Support up to 4 in series, 4 in parallel, or both in series and parallel to form a 48V 400Ah system. 2) Maximum Pulse discharge current: 200A＜10s. 3) Terminals are not recessed. Other than that, the function and appearance are the same as the original 12V 100Ah battery. UL62133 certificate for 100Ah battery pack, UL1642 certificate for 100Ah cells. The batteries will arrive at AoLithium's West Coast warehouse by the end of June 2022. Current (June 23, 2022) AoLithium pricing is $599.99. By using the $30 off coupon code the price will drop to $569.99 per unit. Support my modest channel by using the discount code ... RVTA. AoLithium link: https://aolithium.com/products/12v-100ah-4s-lithium-battery-with-bluetooth Specifications link: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0583/7271/8767/files/12V100Ah-4S_Battery_Specification.pdf Aolithium Contact Information: support@aolithium.com http://www.aolithium.com Aolithium 4278 N Harbor Blvd Bldg 2 (dock 2-6) La Habra, CA 90631

RVing at Port O'Connor, Texas

Annie and I spent the first week of June at an RV park in Port O'Connor, Texas. Succinctly, the venue was called Port O'Connor RV Park. That's easy to remember.

The Gulf region is known for great beaches and fishing. I enjoyed both. We spent the week not only in Port O'Connor but in Rockport and Seafrift. All three communities are enjoying a boom in residential real estate. Beach front property is relatively inexpensive in Seafrift and Port O'Connor. Rockport, not so much. 

Here are several photos from my week in the region. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comment. Annie and I have been to the area many times. We love it.

Go RVing Team Continues To Reach Diverse Audiences

May 12, 2022 

RV Industry Association Staff

For more than two decades, Go RVing has been the leader in diversifying the RVing audience in an effort to grow and expand the overall market. While the major core target market of RV buyer are families, identifying new potential RVers and engaging with them through traditional and digital media as well as experiential events and social influencers, is key to sustaining the lifestyle cherished by millions of Americans.

Building strong influencer relationships is also key to authentically connecting with audiences. With this in mind, the Go RVing team recently sponsored several influencers on a trip to North Texas Jellystone Park. Some of these influencers, who are bilingual in Spanish, published content about their trip that reached audiences who are also bilingual or speak primarily Spanish. This is another avenue through which Go RVing aims to increase the diversity of potential RVers and connect with its range of audiences. Check out what influencers Brenda Cisneros and Rory Lassanske had to say below about their visit to Jellystone and the benefits of staying in a Park Model RV during their trip.

Mejorando mi hogar (Brenda Cisneros)

Brenda Cisnero highlighted her and her family’s trip to North Texas Jellystone Park, where they enjoyed the various outdoor activities that the resort had to offer, which range from crafts to paintball to games. She also highlighted the Park Model RV that she stayed in during her visit.

Mamá Contemporánea (Rory Lassanske)

Rory Lassanske shared her trip with her followers, where she enjoyed glamping with her family and taking part in the park’s wealth of activities. Rory also emphasized that visitors would be able to stay at the park in their RVs during their visit.

Research from KOA shows that Hispanic (Latino) campers has grown from 1.9 million Hispanic camping households in 2014 to 6.3 million Hispanic camping households in 2020. By working with influencer like Brenda and Rory, Go RVing is able to authentically reach an audience that has shown a growing desire to camp and RV.

Favorite Greater San Francisco Bay Area Coffee Shops

I remember riding Liz's bike (my wife and her friends are in the pool) from her San Rafael home to the Coffee Roastery. There I would sit and enjoy a relaxing hot brew. Similarly, I'd enjoy a #coffee and a respite at many other shops throughout my 50 years in the Bay Area. Great memories. More to come. #coffeeshops #northerncaliforniacoffeeshops

Favorite Greater San Francisco Bay Area Coffee Shops

Stationaery

San Carlos Street, 

3 NE of 6th Avenue, 

San Carlos Street

Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921

Mr. Toots Coffeehouse

231 Esplanade #100

Capitola, CA 95010

Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting

1330 Pacific Avenue

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Roy's Station Coffee and Tea

197 Jackson Street

San Jose, CA 95112

Village Pantry

184 2nd Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Peet's Coffee

2197 Fillmore Street

San Francisco, CA 94115

Equater Coffees

2 Miller Avenue

Mill Valley, CA 94941

The Coffee Roastery

701 San Anselmo Avenue

San Anselmo, CA 94960

My short list.

Testing My Travel Trailer Electronics

My 3 night Possum Kingdom State Park trip was a success.  I had the opportunity to test my RV electronic systems a 100 miles from my home. All the while hooked up to water and 30 amp shore power. 

I tested my WFCO converter charger, microwave oven, electric water heater, all lights, space heater/fireplace, TV, Go Power charge controller, iRV Technologies radio/CD/DVD player and GE fridge. Thankfully, they are all working fine. During my last camping trip, I had some serious malfunctions. They have been corrected.

I have no plans to come back to this state park. In my opinion, PK reservoir isn't very beautiful (Texas Park Service begs to differ). Nature is not resplendent here. Half of the lakeshore is commercially developed with plenty of homes. There is only one short modest trail. The park is family friendly. There is even a playground, restaurant and store. If you are a boater or angler. You came to the right place. 

Sure was quiet camping without my wife. My wife Annie is fun to hang out with. No plans to go camping solo anytime soon. At PK there was no TV reception. Thankfully there was internet service. I could check for the latest news, post to social media and even stream several movies. 

While camping, I did take quite a few photographs and shot some video. I look forward to hitting the road again. My home on wheels allows me to travel on a budget. I can readily take quite a bit of camera equipment along with me. I have the freedom to capture landscapes, wild life (I need a bigger telephoto lens), infrastructure, people and more while RVing. I'm excited to enter this new phase of artistic life.

Equipment And Software I Use Or Recommend For The Spring Of 2022

 

Great Video and Audio Products:

DJI Pocket 2 Creator Combo (New version coming out soon): https://amzn.to/3LceiII

Panasonic LUMIX GH6 (Body Only): https://amzn.to/3NmsOQ5

Panasonic LUMIX GH6 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 Leica Lens Combo: https://amzn.to/3IFA06n

Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone: https://amzn.to/3NlUxAt

Rode VideoMic NTG On-Camera Shotgun Microphone: https://amzn.to/3iBr0Vh

Deity V-Mic D3 Pro On-Camera Shotgun Microphone: https://amzn.to/3uxMnMG

Deity V-Mic D3 Pro On-Camera Shotgun Microphone (Location Kit): https://amzn.to/3ut0bYZ

Electro-Voice RE20 Broadcast Announcer Mic (Variable-D): https://amzn.to/35cxdnt

Shure SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphone: https://amzn.to/3Ddq42K

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface: https://amzn.to/3uzF3jX

GoPro HERO10: https://amzn.to/3Dg44Eo

GoPro HERO10 (Kit): https://amzn.to/3IICwIU

CyberLink PowerDirector 20 Ultra: https://amzn.to/36tFuE8

CyberLink PowerDirector 20 Ultimate: https://amzn.to/3NnYcxJ

Manfrotto 504X Fluid Video Head with 536 Single Leg Carbon Tripod: https://amzn.to/3JLEhGH

Benro A673TM Dual Stage Aluminum Video Tripod S8PRO Head: https://amzn.to/36Ouukw

Gator Frameworks Deluxe Tripod Microphone Stand: https://amzn.to/3tG7ZqW

Blue Microphones Compass Microphone Broadcast Boom Arm: https://amzn.to/3iBG2u3

RV News and Pimping Products! Apparently There Is A Difference?

There is apparently a difference between RV News and Pimping Products! In the video I ask the question. Can you be objective if at the same time you are selling products and services?

Order my new RVTA T-shirt. A must have for the stylish RVer: https://www.bonfire.com/rv-amp-travel-adventures-t-shirt/ AoLithium battery prices have dropped! https://amzn.to/3GfS1Hg Thanks for reading my blog RV & Travel Adventures. Feel free to send RVTA your questions, comments or concerns. This blog is Jesús Manuel Mena Garza's hobby. - RVTA LINKS - Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/jmmgarza Support RVTA via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jmmgarza RVTA Photography & Video Website: https://rvta.myportfolio.com

Added 2 AoLithium Batteries

I've been working on updating my travel trailer. Finally, my #Haloview side marker camera issues are no longer. They work perfectly on my 2022 Rockwood Mini Lite 2205S. Today, I also installed my two #AoLithium batteries. So far so good. I kept my install super simple. My brain can only handle so much. 

Video link: https://youtu.be/dUzsX1Zxka0

They work perfect too. In April, I'll be adding a pair of 200 watt panels to the old roof. That should be fun. At least that's the plan.

Finally Picking Up My New RV

Finally. It's time to pickup my new 2022 Rockwood Mini Lite 2205S travel trailer from Wana RV in Shipshewana, Indiana. On the way there I will be stopping at hotels in Little Rock, Arkansas, Effingham, Illinois and finally in Shipshewana. This San Jose, California boy isn't looking forward to the cold upper Midwest winter weather. 

On the way back, I'll stay at various RV parks and do some boondocking. Most campgrounds in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri will be closed for the winter. Maybe I can relax at DeGrays Lake in Arkansas. Dare to dream. 

Should be fun producing several installation videos. First up is Haloview. I'll be adding their side and observation cameras to the travel trailer mix. I'm super excited about installing my Aolithium batteries. First I have to figure out how to wire them inside the pass through storage. You have to keep them warm and safe. Lithium batteries don't like freezing temperatures.

Here's a link to my YouTube video: https://youtu.be/y_Oe3GEq0Gs

Types Of RV Refrigerators (Most Of 'Em)

 Tell me if I am wrong. There are essentially three types of refrigerators that are popular with RVers.

1) Propane (Gas) Electric: The absorption cooling cycle consists of three phases: Liquid refrigerant evaporates in a low pressure vessel, picking up heat from the interior of the refrigerator. Due to the low pressure, heat required for evaporation is low. Next, the now-gaseous refrigerant is absorbed by a special salt solution. Then the refrigerant-saturated liquid is heated, causing the refrigerant gas to evaporate out. This hot refrigerant gas passes through a heat exchanger, transferring its heat to the outside ambient-temperature air. This heat loss causes the gas to condense back into a liquid, which then supplies the evaporation phase, as the cycle starts over and continues to do this as long as it has heat applied to the burner or heating coil. (From RV Repair Club) https://www.rvrepairclub.com/article/... 2) Residential (120 Volt AC): These refrigerators are like the ones you probably have at home. They may be exactly the same. You plug 'em into a 120 volt socket only. They incorporate a compressor (see graphic above) to cool your food and beverages. Some RVs add an inverter to convert 12 volt battery power to 120 volt AC to power the fridge while off grid. Otherwise, if you are at an RV park with electrical hookups. You are set. No propane needed. Ever! 3) 12 Volt: Similar to residential fridges. DC fridges use a compressor. They do not require an inverter which makes them more energy efficient. Both AC and DC fridges cool significantly faster than a gas electric refrigerator. They don't require that your RV be totally level as compared to propane electric fridges. Here is a link to a company that knows more than I about compressors. https://www.compressorsunlimited.com/... FYI: I am a big fan of combing a DC fridge with plenty of solar and lithium batteries. By the way, there are few other ways to refrigerate your beverages and chow. I didn't talk about them. Your are welcome.

LATINO RVers

More Latinos are enjoying the RV lifestyle. Just like you, Latinos enjoy traveling with their families and enjoying the great American outdoors. Taking the kids fishing, biking and hiking. My wife and I are prime examples of couple's campers. Latinos are building RVs too! From making, to purchasing and enjoying the outdoor lifestyle. Latinos are changing the RVing world. It's time to take notice America. #LatinoRVer #LatinoCamper

https://youtu.be/Dkrl4Dd_gy8

Getting My Travel Trailer ... FINALLY!

Back in March 2021, I ordered a Rockwood Mini Lite 2205S from Wana RV of Shipshewana, Indiana. They noted to me prices would be increased in a month. So place your $1,000 nonrefundable deposit down today, rather than tomorrow. And I did. They said I would get my RV by August. It didn't. 

This week I was notified my RV would be built November 22, 2021. So my wife and I plan to pick up (Fort Worth to Shipshewana, Indiana) our modest travel trailer come early December. That's the plan. It's critical to know that I understand the difference between what the dealership pays and MSRP. I have seen the manufacturer invoices. On my travel trailer back in March the wholesale price would be under $20,000. The MSRP was around $35,000. Today, I am paying $25,000 plus TTL. 

I feel bad for the many RV customers who have been exploited. Sales staff are cruel beasts. Their task masters (managers) are only motivated by profit. I'm hopeful that Devin Puckett at Wana RV continues to hold up to his side of the bargain. That there aren't any surprise price hikes. So far I'm impressed with Devin and Wana RV.

That's me inside a Rockwood Mini Lite 2205S. I like what I see.

Forest River, THOR Industries Cancel their Open House Plans

09/08/2021 - ELKHART, Ind. — Forest River, Inc. and THOR Industries have jointly announced the cancellation of Dealer Open House activities for 2021,  the two companies announced this afternoon (Sept. 8) in a joint press release. The annual event, scheduled for the week of Sept. 26, attracts thousands of visitors to Elkhart, Indiana from across North America.  The companies’ top priority is the health and safety of valued industry partners, team members and the larger Elkhart community, the release continued. With local and national COVID cases rapidly increasing, safety mandates would be required to help mitigate risks, distracting from the positive experience industry partners expect.     The cancellation of Open House is the right thing to do in order to protect the health of all stakeholders, officials said, while also helping alleviate disruption to production at a time when delivering new RVs is critical to the industry’s continued success. Forest River and THOR continue to be focused on delivering quality products to their respective dealer partners.   “After reviewing all of the factors, we determined it was in everyone’s’ best interest and the safest, most responsible course of action to cancel the Expo this year,” stated Pete Liegl, CEO of Forest River Inc. “The community and dealers always welcome this event, but with COVID rates increasing across the country, we do not want to put our dealers, employees or the community at any additional risk.”    “With a heavy heart, we’re canceling this year’s dealer event,” shared Bob Martin, THOR President and CEO. “Our companies remain steadfast on delivering exceptional RVs to our dealer partners. While we are eager to share the exciting innovation we’ve been developing across our brands, we are committed to protecting the health and safety of our trusted partners, team members, and community.”